706 REPORT — 1898. 



the spider succumbed to hunger and died ; and its body was then cut into 

 extremely small pieces by the female relatives of the warrior. But though 

 the spider no longer troubles Tou, he has not ceased to grumble yet. 



Tidal Wave Myths. 

 The tidal waves are believed by the Haidas to be caused by three 

 sisters who dwell on the West Coast. When they are annoyed in any 

 way they revenge themselves by raising these great waves and smashing 

 the canoes of the Haidas and drowning their occupants. The devil-doctor 

 is the only intermediary between the sisters and the people, and his 

 services must be well paid for before he acts, 



TscJihyiose Myth. 

 The Haidas belief in the existence of a fearful man-eating monster, 

 who lives half in and half out of the sea. This dreadful being is seen 

 once in about fifteen years, and his appearance presages a time of famine 

 or pestilence and sickness. 



The Killer-ivhale Myth. 



When a Haida is drowned it is believed that his spirit is translated to 

 the body of a Killer-whale. These whales were therefore formerly much 

 honoured, and never killed by the Haidas. The appearance of one of 

 them off" the shore in front of an Indian's dwelling is always regarded as a 

 ' call ' to some member of the household, who will shortly meet with his 

 death by drowning. 



Land-otter Myth. 

 The Haidas believe that the land-otter has the power to enchant men. 

 He meets hunters and wanderers in the forest in the guise of a beautiful 

 maiden, who says to the victim, ' Come and sit down with me.' The wise 

 man is able to detect the enchantress by the pronunciation of the words 

 she uses, and so escapes her charms. The unwary, yielding to her wiles, 

 become her slaves, or are found wandering in the woods bereft of their 

 senses. She is also supposed sometimes to place certain leaves which have 

 magical qualities in the springs frequented by the people. Hence, before 

 taking a drink the Haida first throws a little water over the right 

 •houlder, saying at the same time, ' Land-otter, land-otter, go from me ! ' 



The Thunder-eagle Myth, 

 This widespread myth is found also among the Haidas. They regard 

 the thunder-eagle as their deadliest foe. They suppose that he dwells as 

 a lonely god among the most awful recesses of the mountains, and that 

 when he is hungry he robes himself in eagle form and swoops down upon 

 the land, darkening it with the shadow of his widespread wings, whose 

 motions give rise to the thunder. The lightning is supposed to come 

 from the tongue of a fish which the thunder-eagle carries under his 

 pinions. 



The Mouse Myth. 



_ This myth of the mouse is one of the most firmly implanted in tlie 



minds of the Haidas. It enters very intimately into their lives. The 



younger members are beginning to laugh at the notions connected with it 



now, but their elders still firmly believe in them. To them the harmless 



i 



